“No.”
“I did. From the doctor who called in the tip we confirmed that there's at least one other perpetrator. There's no telling who else is in there with her.”
“So you lobbed in a rocket?”
“I had to make sure. We haven't got any cover here. We're sitting ducks. I had to do it.”
“You should have given her a chance.”
“Did she give those people at Arapahoe Junction a chance?”
“So you convicted her before she had her day in court.”
“Well, if she's in there, we won't need to go to the expense of a trial.” He frowned. “But it may be some time before we're able to go in and verify. We'd better search the area to make sure they didn't escape.”
“So you can hunt her down and shoot her?”
“I only did my job.” Jurgens smiled sardonically. “These days this country is very aware of how vulnerable it is, and people don't like it. They want to strike back when they're hurt. What side do you think Joe Public will weigh in on when all the details concerning Graham's crime come to light?”
“How do you know they will?”
“It's a certainty. We have more evidence than we revealed to the media.”
“Or to us?”
“We would have shared if Graham had surrendered peacefully.” He turned to the agent next to him. “Take four men and search the road and brush. Don't take chances. These are criminals who— What the hell is that?”
The metallic throbbing of rotors was followed by the sight of a helicopter coming through the pass. The aircraft dipped and then started a descent into the valley below.
“I don't like this.” Jurgens ran toward his car. “Leopold, have one of your cars stay here. You come along. We may need you. . . . The rest of you pile into those cars and get down there.”
“Screw you,” Leopold said. “I'm not taking orders from a gun-happy son of a bitch who—”
“Suit yourself.” Jurgens jumped behind the wheel of the car, and the vehicle leaped forward as he jammed on the accelerator.
“They're coming like bats out of hell.” Galen glanced over his shoulder at the four cars speeding down the mountain road. In a matter of seconds they'd reach the valley. “It's going to be close.”
The helicopter was landing in a snow-covered field a half mile from them. Jesus, it seemed like a hundred to Alex. “Are we going to make it?”
“We'll make it, but with all their firepower the takeoff may be pretty chancy.”
Ken's helicopter. Exploding. Flaming. Splintering.
“Or maybe not . . .” Galen murmured, his gaze on the rearview mirror. “I believe Judd may be doing his thing.”
“What?” She looked over her shoulder in time to see the lead car swerve violently and then crash into a tree.
The second car's front tire blew and the driver frantically tried to right the car, but it spun sideways and the third car piled into it.
“One more, Judd,” Galen said as he parked the car beside the helicopter. “One more.”
The fourth car's front tire blew, but the driver managed to stop before he piled into the other two cars.
“Bull's-eye.” Galen jumped out of the car and ran toward the helicopter. “Let's get out of here.”
She was right behind him. “What about Morgan? Are we just going to leave him?”
“He said he'd contact us later.” He opened the door of the helicopter and lifted her inside. “I don't think we have to worry. He seems to have the situation in hand.”
“He's on foot and he's just shot the tires out of four FBI cars. I don't call that having the situation in hand. They're going to go after him.”
“He'll have a head start.” He waved at the pilot to take off. “That's all he needs.”
“He's on foot. They'll catch him.”
“He was on foot in Afghanistan after he took out a warlord who was sheltering Al Qaeda terrorists. He had to travel seventy miles through unfriendly territory before he was able to arrange a pickup.”
“He told you that?”
Galen shook his head. “Judd doesn't talk much. But he's something of a legend to the Rangers.”
She gazed out the window at the wreckage on the hillside as the helicopter rose from the ground. A man had gotten out of the car that crashed into the tree and was striding toward the pileup. He was holding his arm and there was blood on his cheek. There was something familiar about him, but his head was down and she couldn't identify him. But she could identify the rage and tension that characterized the man's every movement.
And that anger would be directed at Judd Morgan, who had stayed behind so that they could escape.
“Call him,” she told Galen. “Set up a meeting place near here. We're not leaving him.”
“He said to get you to somewhere safe. They may have already radioed for helicopters and reinforcements. Besides, he's probably nowhere near that pileup. He took his shots and got out of there.”
“Call him.”
He smiled. “Whatever you say.” He pulled out his phone and dialed. A moment later he shook his head. “He's got his phone turned off. Makes sense. He sure as hell wouldn't want it to go off at a sensitive moment. Now, may we get the hell out of here?”
“I guess we can't do anything else.” She gazed down at the scene below. More agents were getting out of the cars. They were talking on phones, and the first man who'd gotten out of the car was standing and staring up at the helicopter.
“My God, it's Jurgens.”
“Why are you surprised? He's the one who put that all-points bulletin out on you.”
“I know . . . it's just . . . I guess what you told me about him never really hit home until I saw him down there.” Her lips twisted sardonically. “And he told me he wanted to set me up in a safe house.”
Galen's gaze shifted to the burning lodge. “Then I'd say you were smart to turn down his offer.”
Her glance followed Galen's. No safety, only death there.
No safety anywhere.
6
Morgan didn't call Galen until the helicopter had landed at a small airport north of Denver.
“I'm on my way. I picked up a rental car at Colorado Springs. Where am I going?”
“The airport at Fort Collins. I just let Dave out here and I'm flying the helicopter for the rest of the trip. We'll set down and pick you up.”
“Not smart. Just tell me the final destination.”
“I have a mutiny on my hands. Alex is feeling guilty about leaving you. I told her that the world would be better off without you, but she won't listen.”
“Really? Amazing. Okay, I should be at Fort Collins in about two hours.”
Galen turned to Alex as he hung up. “He's on his way.”
Alex nodded. “You lied. I don't feel guilty. It's just that right is right.”
“Refreshing.”
“Where are we going after we pick him up?”
“A ranch near Sibley. It's a small town near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.”
“Why are we going there?”
“It's the closest place I have contacts where you and Judd can go to ground. The heat's going to be very hot and heavy on you. We have to get you out of sight quick.”
She shook her head dazedly. “I don't understand any of this. It's a nightmare.”
“Yep. And the only way you can get away from a nightmare is to wake up.” He met her gaze. “What happened at the lodge was ugly. Until then I thought there might be the smallest chance you were right about this all being a big mistake.”
“Morgan didn't.”
“Morgan isn't prone to think any government agency is clean since he's in hot water himself with them.”
“And how could a so-called legend get himself in trouble?”
“Patriotism and trust. I believe at one time Judd must have been as idealistic as you are.”
“No way.”
“It's always the most devout who become the greatest cynics when they're disi
llusioned.”
She shook her head.
“I can't say I blame you for not thinking well of him, considering he kidnapped you.”
“How understanding,” she said dryly. “You're not my man of the moment either. Nothing that's happened has changed that.”
“Maybe we'll grow on you.”
“I doubt it.”
“It would be better for you if we did since we appear to be the only ones in your corner. Unless you count Sarah Logan, and I don't think you want to involve her in this mess.”
“Certainly not. Though John Logan is another matter entirely.”
“Sometimes things become clearer if you take them apart and put them back together. Think about it. Who knows? You may decide Judd is the best thing that's happened to you since Nader's death.”
“Bull.”
“Just a suggestion.” He changed the subject. “How's your shoulder?”
“Okay.”
“Which means it probably hurts. Why don't you try to nap until we get to Fort Collins?”
Nap? She knew damn well if she closed her eyes all she'd see would be that lodge in flames. She still felt her stomach clench whenever she remembered that first moment of shock. “That's a lousy idea.”
Galen nodded as he studied her face. “Then try to relax. We moved fast enough so that we're probably ahead of the game.” He smiled. “Though if you see any F-15s trailing us, forget everything I said.”
“That's right, I'm a big-time threat, aren't I?” She shook her head and whispered, “Crazy. The entire thing's crazy.”
Morgan was standing on the runway, waiting, as the helicopter set down.
He was looking up at them and was still carrying the rifle. Alex again had that odd feeling that the weapon was part of him. The cold wind from the rotors was tearing at his hair and pressing his jacket to his body.
Warrior. The word immediately jumped into her mind. Why not? Galen had just been talking about Morgan's experiences in the Rangers.
No, it was more than that. She could sense—
“Let's go.” Morgan opened the door and jumped into the helicopter. “This is pretty dumb. You should have let me make my own way.”
“Talk to Alex.” Galen lifted off. “I couldn't convince her. She said right is right.”
“And dead is dead,” Morgan said. “You don't sacrifice a mission for one man.”
“And you don't leave behind someone who's helped you,” Alex said. “So shut up with all that military garbage.”
He blinked, and then a slow smile lit his face. “Sorry. I didn't mean to bore you. I lived with that ‘garbage' for a number of years. It's second nature to me.”
“Galen told me.” She looked away from him. “But this isn't Afghanistan. Did you have any trouble?”
“I did some dodging.”
That was all he was going to say. Well, she didn't want to know anyway. “Bob Jurgens was in that first car you wrecked.”
“You recognized him?”
“He was the FBI agent who interviewed me.”
“He wanted to put her in a safe house,” Galen added.
Morgan gave a low whistle. “Interesting.”
“It's more than interesting to me,” she said. “It's damn world-shaking. He seemed . . . I thought he was starting to believe me.”
“I'm sure he did.”
She shook her head. “I'm not sure of anything right now.”
Except that she might have died today if Morgan hadn't been there. That fact was as bewildering as everything else that had happened to her.
“It's natural for you to be confused,” Morgan said quietly. “It's against your instincts to doubt the authorities. You want to believe them.”
“I'm not sure that I don't.”
“Yes, you are,” Morgan said. “Listen to your gut feelings.”
She couldn't do that. Her gut feelings were telling her to run and hide, and that wasn't an option she could live with.
The ranch outside Sibley was located twenty miles from the town and set some three miles back from the road. From the air the house looked to be a nice, clean little wooden cottage with a wraparound porch.
Galen set the helicopter down in a meadow to the south of the house. “You two get inside. I have to find a way of camouflaging this chopper. There should be a key underneath the phony rock beside the porch.”
“Some security,” Morgan said.
“It's that kind of town. Most people don't lock their doors here at night.”
“I always wanted to live in a town like that,” Alex said as she walked toward the house. “Fourth of July parades where everyone knows everybody. Picnics. Bands playing in a gazebo in the park.”
“Sounds nice,” Judd said. “But I notice you chose to spend your life globe-trotting instead.”
“It just happened. At first, I was curious about everything and anything. After my father died . . . I needed to work. I went where I was sent. Where I was needed.”
“But you still like the idea of your small town with unlocked doors.”
“I guess I feel a little vulnerable. Going back to the way things were fifty years ago is like feather beds and mashed potatoes. Comfort.”
“But we're not in a comfort zone right now.” He moved ahead of her and retrieved the key from beneath the rock. “So stay outside until I check out the house.”
“Galen said this place was safe.”
“More soldiers are killed when they think they're safe than at any other time.” He unlocked the door. “Oops, sorry. More military garbage.” He disappeared inside the house but returned in a few minutes. “All clear.”
“Galen would have been upset if it hadn't been,” Alex said as she entered the house, whose furnishings reflected the same hominess as the exterior. It was all chintz slipcovers and pine cabinets. There was even a rocking chair in the corner. “He seems to take pride in his ability to move us around like chess pieces.”
“He's proud that he's good at his job.” Morgan was at the fireplace, kneeling to light the kindling. “But he has no desire to move the pawns around the board. Neither do I. Too many people in my life have pulled my strings. All I want is to be left alone.”
“But evidently you made an executive decision when you snatched me.”
He shrugged. “I'd committed myself to keeping you alive. I had no choice.” He rose to his feet. “I'll go raid the kitchen and see if I can find coffee and some food. Those three doors leading off the living room are bedrooms. Why don't you choose one and wash up?”
“I will.” As she moved toward the first door, she noticed a television set against the far wall. “And why don't you see if you can get some news on that television? I want to see if I'm wanted for the murder of any of those FBI men you shot as well as for blowing up the dam.”
“I was as careful as I could be. I hit them when they were almost down to the valley and wouldn't go off the mountain. I targeted the tires. You said you didn't want anyone hurt.”
“Jurgens was holding his arm. I think it might have been broken.”
“So I'm not perfect. I try to make sure I don't have to calculate car speed on a target. It's very tricky. And no one has ever wanted me to take out cars instead of men.” He opened a cabinet over the sink. “Ah, coffee. If you want to take a nap, I promise not to drink the entire pot.”
“I'm not going to take a nap. Why do you keep trying to get me to go to sleep? We need to talk.”
He glanced at her as he took down the coffee canister. “That sounds ominous.”
“What happened last night was ominous. It scared me to death.” She opened the door. “I don't like to be scared. I don't like to feel helpless. And I sure as hell don't like being made a target. I have to know what's happening.” She didn't wait for him to reply but closed the door and leaned against it. Lord, she was exhausted. She needed sleep. Her shoulder throbbed and she felt as if she'd been through a war.
Morgan knew about wars. They were his stock-in-trade.
Well, they weren't her trade. She hated violence. Which made the fact that she had been forced into defending herself against this hideous charge all the more sickening.
Flames consuming the lodge, clawing at the sky.
No, she hadn't even been given the chance to defend herself.
So forget about rest. She had to figure out why this had happened and what she was going to do.
Morgan was still alone in the living room when Alex came out of the bedroom an hour later.
“Did you change your mind about that nap?” he asked. “I was just going to check and see if you were all right.”
“No, I just wanted a little time to myself. Where's Galen?”
“We're low on groceries. He went to town to pick some up.”
“How? I thought Sibley was twenty miles away.”
“There was an old Ford pickup in the barn. Nothing fancy, but it works.”
“Why did I even question? Galen seems to fill all needs.”
“Thank God.” He went to the cabinet. “I'll get you a cup of coffee. This is the second pot. Galen and I killed the first one.”
“I could use the caffeine.” She sat down on the couch in front of the television set. “Was there anything about the attack on the lodge?”
He nodded. “You and your accomplices resisted arrest and they had to fire. They haven't been able to go into the lodge yet to get DNA evidence, but they're almost sure you escaped. Particularly since the fine forces of law and order were ambushed while they were in pursuit of a suspicious vehicle.”
“Resisted arrest? There was no one in that lodge.”
He shrugged. “Poltergeists?” He handed her the cup. “And they've identified me as one of your accomplices. I was wondering when they'd decide to put me in the hot seat too.”
“You're probably used to it.”
“Yes, and you'll be glad to know that the injuries I inflicted were minor. Jurgens has a broken arm, and one of his men has a minor concussion.”
“I'm not sure I am glad.”
He gazed at her with raised brows.
“Or maybe I am.” She took a sip of coffee. “I just don't know. I still find it difficult to believe the FBI is out to get me.”